COV LIFE BLOG

Mark Overview – The True Prophet and the Suffering Servant

The Gospel according to Mark is the shortest gospel and in presentation the most dense one. Mark does not so much describe the teachings but more the actions of the Lord Jesus. Very often Mark uses the present time in his accounts instead of the past time. The word “and” (Greek: euthys) is very striking and appears more than forty times. Neither the genealogy nor the birth of Jesus are mentioned. In the very first chapter Mark starts his account of the Lord Jesus’ ministry.
 
The Lord Jesus retires into a quiet place much more frequently than is mentioned in the other gospels (Mark 1:12; Mark 1:35; Mark 6:31; Mark 6:46; Mark 7:17; Mark 7:24; Mark 9:2; Mark 11:19). Mark mentions particularly often that the Lord Jesus did not want his actions to be made public (Mark 1:34; Mark 1:44; Mark 3:12; Mark 5:43; Mark 7:36; Mark 8:26; Mark 8:30; Mark 9:9; Mark 9:30).
 
The disciples do not once call Jesus “Lord” and he is called “Christ” (Anointed One) seven times only.
 
All these peculiarities show that the subject of this gospel is to present Christ as God’s servant. He was not only the promised king of Israel as in Matthew’s gospel but also the true servant of the Lord (compare Is. 42:1-9; 49:1-6; 52:13-15; Zechariah 3:8). According to his own words he has not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
 
But the Lord Jesus is also presented as the true prophet in the Gospel of Mark (compare Deuteronomy 18:15). As such He announced the good tidings of God, the gospel. This key word appears eight times in Mark, four times in Matthew and not at all in Luke (except for the Greek verb “evangelize”) and neither in John. In Mark 1:38 the Lord Jesus explains with authority what His ministry was: announcing the Word of God as prophet: “Let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.”
 
God’s servant is also the suffering servant. The report of the Lord’s suffering and death occupies a relatively large place in respect to the length of the gospel. Four times the Lord Jesus announces His coming sufferings to his disciples: Mark 8:31; Mark 9:12; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:32-34.
 
Marvin Vincent

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SCRIPTURES FOR THIS SUNDAY
Review the book of Mark and consider which of these keys themes have been of particular significance to you throughout our study of Mark. How can you continue to meditate on and further apply these truths to your life even as we transition to a new series?

SONG FOR THIS WEEK
Your Great Name by Krissy Nordhoff